There is increasing concern about the progress of Lonzo Ball‘s rehab, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ball was supposed to begin sprinting in January, but that still hasn’t happened, per Cowley. The Bulls point guard hasn’t played since January 2022. He has undergone three surgeries on his left knee since then, including a cartilage transplant last March.
“I don’t know if he’s stuck,” coach Billy Donovan said. “He is doing some shooting, some running, some jumping. He hasn’t done any sprinting yet, that I know.”
Donovan stopped short of calling it a setback.
“They talked about that, and (sprinting) was kind of a goal, a setpoint,” he said. “I do think the one thing that has been a priority right now so he does not get set back is he needs to develop more strength in his leg. Because of him having that surgery and being off his leg so long, before he’s really able to ramp up I think they want him to get to a place physically that relates to his quad strength, hamstring strength, before he starts to really do that. I don’t want to say it’s a holdup, but that’s where they want to get him to. In terms of what he’s doing, he feels better.”
Most of Ball’s rehab work this season has been done in Los Angeles, though he has spent some time in Chicago. The veteran guard expressed optimism last summer that his latest procedure would eventually get him back in action.
Ball holds a player option of approximately $21.4MM on the final year of his contract. It’s a virtual certainty he’ll opt it, given how long he’s been sidelined. It’s too soon to know how his body will respond once he progresses to sprinting and basketball-related drills, but there’s certainly no guarantee he’ll return to action next season.
Chicago has lost Ball’s former backcourt partner Zach LaVine to a season-ending foot injury this season. Power forward Patrick Williams has also been lost for the season with his own foot issues.
Lonzo is done
It has been a wrap for a while. Lonzo has continued to try any and everything to get back on the floor. Disappointing. Lonzo was a throwback. Incredible point guard instincts. Had to adapt to attempt to become what he wasn’t, a shooter, because rule changes have made the traditional point guard go away the same way the traditional post has. Too bad. Had he played in a different era where the PG mattered, he was the type of player that actually attracted players to the game. Just really fun to watch, and a player when allowed to actually be a point guard and run an offense, elevated the play of everyone else on the floor. Even without a jumper.
The Ball brothers are two of the most overrated players of this generation. They aren’t true point guards and they can’t shoot. They are decent passers, and that’s it. They showboat everything they do. They make simple passes look flashy, and todays TikTok generation is somehow in love. These clowns wouldn’t have made the team in past generations, and certainly nobody was putting up with their hot dog showboat passing.
Lonzo was the very epitome of a throwback PG. When he came into the league he did have a horrible shot. He worked hard on his shot until he could shoot. In the last three seasons before the injury he shot .375, .378, and .423 from deep. Lonzo isn’t a showboat. He pushes the ball ahead on transition and makes passes others can’t.
I’m not going disagree on LaMelo as far as being a flashy showboat. He does have a decent jumper though. His career 3pm% stands at .355, not elite but good enough. He’s young though, if he can reign in the bad shots and turnovers along with staying on the court and not getting injured he could be an elite PG in the future.
All that hype and they’re both busts…
Lonzo and LaMelo are totally different players. Lonzo has always been a pass first PG and definitely not a hot dog. He worked hard on re-tooling his shot and became an above average 3P shooter by the time he got to the Bulls. He is also a solid defensive player. His father over-hyped him but when healthy he is a very good NBA player that any team would want. Anyone who thinks he and LaMelo are the same doesn’t watch much basketball and doesn’t know what they are watching when they do.
You’re exactly right. When Lonzo first came into the league, he was shooting his shot from too low. To his credit, he reworked his shot and now shoots from a higher starting point like everyone else. The Bulls would be much better if Lonzo had never gotten hurt. Such is life.
Get rid of Lonzo as soon as possible, Chicago. Cut the losses. He’s gotten enough money from you.
They’d be smart if they extend him.
Why should they waste assets to dump him? Just tank.
Also, he’s covered by insurance as long as he’s on the roster. It costs them nothing but cap space to keep him.
You’re assuming the Bulls payed for that kind of insurance. Probably not.
They did and Jerry loves free money. It’s why they never go over the cap. Lonzo might get bought out next season but it is doubtful.
Hard to just trade someone who may never play again…
Certainly not at the level they did before the injuries for the rest of their deal…
Sad, very sad indeed. Was the initial surgery botched somehow?
Unclear, I think regardless tho his knees are just cooked. tbh I think the pels must’ve seen this coming hence why they were eager to move off him despite him playing well
As a bulls fan , already became conditioned to career-debilitating pg injuries long ago
Sad that his career has gone like this, I dont know if he will ever comeback, but I hope he does. Doesnt seem like it tho sadly
Being a Bulls point guard might be the most dangerous job in sports
Maybe it was his BBB shoes he rocked back in the day?
They were made on the cheap…
Bulls have known for the longest. That Ball could be done for his career. In the best of circumstances. That’s not an injury all come back from. Bulls are a mess. They could have moved DeM and went for a top three pick. Now I don’t see DeM coming back. Best case scenario is they do a sign-n- trade with DeM. They should shut him down and go for top lottery pick.
Why Chicago even acquired him is beyond me. Dude was hurt in college, with the Lakers, and with the Pelicans. He played 63 games once all other seasons he was in low-mid 50s or less.
I agree with Smacky. Never should’ve signed him. Why they don’t just cut their losses and move on is beyond me.
Guy gets paid to cruise around cali hitting up honeys. Might come back for a contract year.